Reed cases



J1me 1963 M. E. BYRUCKMANN 3,09

' REED CASES Filed April 23, 1962 INVENTOR. MGU/ICQ EBrur/rmdnn ATTORNEYS United States Patent 7' 3,092,243 REED CASES Maurice E. Bruckmann, 1600 N. Edison Blvd, Burbank, Calif. Filed Apr. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 189,578 7 Claims. (Cl. 266-13) The present invention relates to carrying cases for musicians woodwind reeds and particularly to a reed carrying case constructed to retain and protect reeds when not in use. More particularly the present invention relates to such a case having means enabling it to be used to carry any size woodwind reed.

My prior Patent No. 2,937,740, issued May 24, 1960, discloses several readily constructed reed carrying cases designed to protect woodwind reeds from damage, warping and splitting. Although these cases have been found to be satisfactory, their particular construction requires that a different case be made for each of the four different sizes of reeds now being used.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a case which will accommodate all sizes of woodwind reeds by providing removable reed retaining members.

It is another object of the present invention to reduce the manufacturing costs of woodwind reed carrying cases by providing a case which can be easily converted to carry any size woodwind reed.

Yet another object ofthe present invention is to provide a new means for carrying woodwind reeds by constructing a support pivotally carrying removable retaining members and having a readily removable cover cooperating therewith, the reeds being retained rigidly against displacement and being sufiiciently open to permit the reeds to dry readily.

A further object of the invention is to improve woodwind reed carrying cases by constructing a support removably pivotally carrying a retaining member on opposite ends and opposite sides thereof to form pockets in which reeds may be inserted, and providing covers therefor and means securely clamping the reeds to the supports.

Still further objects and advantages will readily occur to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains upon reference to the following drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred carrying case embodying the present invention showing the covers removed.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the case shown in FIG. 1 .but with the covers secured to the support member.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially at line 33 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a modified construction.

Now referring to the drawing for a more detailed description of the invention, a preferred carrying case comprises a support member 10. A pair of retaining members 11 are pivotally carried at opposite ends and opposite sides of the support member 10. A pair of substantially similar but oppositely positioned covers 12 are adapted to be removably secured to the support member 10.

The support member is substantially rectangular in shape having lateral edges 13. The lateral edges 13 are each provided with a pair of elongated slots 14 forming spaced arms 15. The arms 15 are provided with axially aligned pins 16.

The retaining members 11 are substantially S shaped and each is provided with a curved tab portion -17 at one 3,092,243 Patented June 4, 1963 end. The tab portion 17 is return bent as at 18 and provides a pair of axially aligned sockets 19' which receive the pins 16. The tab portion 17 is provided with a longitudinal slot 29. The retaining members 11 are preferably constructed of resilient material and the slot 20 then permits the tab portion 17 to be laterally compressed to facilitate assembly and removal of these retaining members 1 1. The retaining members 11 form pockets 21 into which the thin end of a reed 22 is inserted. The thin end is designated by reference character 22A and the half round base portion of the reed is designated 223. It is apparent the number of reeds 22 which may be held may be varied by providing different widths and different numbers of retaining members. The end edge 23 of the retaining member 11 is upturned to facilitate insertion of the reed 22 and to provide a portion 24 which engages the base end portion 22A.

The covers 12 each comprise a substantially flat portion 25 having a pair of spaced substantially c-shaped flanges 26 at one end and a substantially S-shaped flange 27 at the other end. The flanges 26 engage the retaining member 11 as at 28 to provide a clamping force which clamps the reed 22 intermediate the retaining member 11 and the support member 11 The flange 27 snaps over the other end of support member 10 holding the cover 12 securely in place. It is apparent that in the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1-3 the single flange 27 of one cover 12 is adapted to be disposed in the space between the pair of flanges 26 of the other cover 12 providing for a compact assembly as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The cover 12 is provided with clamping elements 29. The clamping elements 29 are preferably inwardly bent and are provided with a pair of spaced prongs 30. The prongs 30 engage the reed base end 223 when the cover 12 is in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The cover 12 is constructed of resilient material so that the clamping element 29 will resiliently engage with the reed 22 thus further clamping the reed 22 to the support member 10. The cover 12 also resiliently engages the end edge 23 of the retaining member 11 to provide additional clamping pressure on the reed 22.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified construction comprising a support member removably pivotally carrying a pair of retaining members 111. The cover 112 is substantially similar in both construction and function as cover 12 but it will be seen only one C-shaped flange 26 is necessary.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that when one of the covers 12 is removed the clamping pressure of the other cover 12 at 28 will prevent the retaining member 11 from pivoting out of engagement with the reeds 22. However, removal of the cover 12 will release most of the clamping pressure so that the reed 22 may then be readily removed from the pocket 21.

The carrying case is provided with suflicient openings to permit rapid drying of the reeds. The reed 22 is clamped against the support member 10 in such a way as to prevent longitudinal and lateral displacement of the reed 22 with respect to the support member 10 and thus to provide adequate protection from damage.

The retaining members 11 may be easily removed by laterally compressing the tab portion 17. This permits the user to change the retaining member 11 to accommodate any of the four sizes of reeds 22.

Although I have described but two embodiments of the present invention, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A case for carrying a woodwind reed and a reed supported thereby, said case comprising (D (a) a reed supporting member being provided with a pair of spaced arms on at least one edge thereof, (b) said arms being provided with axially aligned pin members, 7 a I (c) a resilient retaining meinber having a pair of axially aligned sockets receiving said pin members and a longitudinal slot spaced from said sockets whereby said retaining member is pivotally carried on said supporting member and is removable upon laterally compressing said retaining member,

( d) said retaining member engageably overlying a portion of said reed,

(e) a cover overlying said reed and resiliently engaging said retaining member,

( said cover having means selectively securing said cover to said supporting member, and

(g) said cover having a resilient clamping means op erable on securing said cover to said supporting member to engage said reed whereby to clamp said reed to said supporting member; v a 2. The case as defined in claim 1 and in which said means securing said cover to said supporting member comprises,

(a) opposite ends of said cover each being provided with a flange, and

(b) said flanges being removably resiliently clamped on opposite ends of said supporting member.

3. A case for carrying a plurality of woodwind reeds and a plurality of reeds supported thereby, said case comprising, a i (a) a flat support member-being provided'with a'pair of spaced arms at opposite ends thereof,

(b) each pair of said arms beingprovided with axially aligned pin members,

(c) a resilient retaining member positioned on' each 7 side of said support member and each having a pair of axially aligned sockets receiving a pair of said axially aligned pin members whereby said retaining members are pivotally carried on opposite sides of said support member,

V (d) each of said retaining members having a longitudinal slot spaced from said sockets whereby each of said retaining members is removable from said support member upon laterally compressing said retaining member,

(e) each of said retaining members respectively engageably overlying a portion of one of said reeds,

(f) a cover for each side of said support'member overlying said reeds and said retaining members,

(g) means securing each cover to said support mem:

her, and a (h) each cover having a first resilient clamping means operable upon securing said cover to said support member to engage said reed and clamp same to said support member. a

4. The combination as defined in claim 3 and in which said cover is provided with a second clamping means operable upon securing said cover to said support structure to resiliently engage said retaining member on the opposite side of said support member and clamp said reed intermediate said retaining member and said support member. s

5. A woodwind reed carrying case and a woodwind reed supported thereby, said casing comprising (a) a reed support member being provided with a pair of spaced arms on at least one edge threof,

(b) said'arms being provided with axially aligned pin members, i

(c) a substantially S-shaped resilient retaining memher having a pair of axially aligned sockets receiving said pinfmembers and a longitudinally extending slot spaced from said sockets whereby said retaining member is pivotally carried on said supporting member and is removable upon laterally compressing said retaining member,

(d) said retaining member engageably overlying a portion of said reed,

(e) a cover overlying said reedand resiliently engaging said retaining member whereby to clamp said reed intermediate said retaining member and said support memben;

(i) said cover having flange means at each end removably resiliently clamped on opposite ends of said supporting member, and

(g) said cover having flange means at each end removably resiliently clamped on opposite ends of said supporting member, and I (it) said cover having clamping means resiliently engaging said reed whereby to clamp said reed to said support member,

- 6. A case for carrying Woodwind reeds and woodwind reeds supported thereby, said case'comprising (a) an elongated reed support member being provided with a pair of laterally spaced armsat opposite ends thereof,

(b) each pair of said arms being provided with axially aligned pin members,

(c) a substantially S-shaped resilient retaining member positioned on each side of said'support member and having a pair of laterally spaced axially aligned sockets receiving a pairof said axially aligned pin members whereby said retaining members are pivotally carried on opposite sides of said support member,

(d) each of said retaining members engageably overlying a portion of one of said reeds and having a-longi tudinal slot disposed intermediate said sockets Whereby each of said retaining members is removable from said support member upon laterally compressing said retaining member,

(e) a cover for each side of said support member overlying saidreed and said retaining member,

(f) said cover being removably clamped to opposite ends of said supporting member,

(g) said cover having means resiliently engaging'said retaining'member whereby to clamp said reed intermediate said retaining member and said supporting member, and i V (h) said cover having means resiliently engaging'said reed whereby to clamp said reed to said supportin member. 7

7. A case for carrying woodwind reeds and a reed supported thereby, said case comprising a (a) a reed supporting member provided with a pair of spaced arms,

(b) a retaining member disposed intermediate said arms and having a slot therethrough substantially parallel with edges thereof, said edges being adjacent said arms,

(0) means normally cooperatively engaging said edges with said arms, a

(d) said retaining member being resilient whereby upon compressing said edges one towardthe other said edges are disengaged from said arms,

(e) saidretaining member having a portion overlying said supporting member and a reed thereon, and

(f) means resiliently urging said'retaining member against said reed.

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A CASE FOR CARRYING A WOODWIND REED AND A REED SUPPORTED THEREBY, SAID CASE COMPRISING (A) A REED SUPPORTING MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF SPACED ARMS ON AT LEAST ONE EDGE THEREOF, (B) SAID ARMS BEING PROVIDED WITH AXIALLY ALIGNED PIN MEMBERS, (C) A RESILIENT RETAINING MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF AXIALLY ALIGNED SOCKETS RECEIVING SAID PIN MEMBERS AND A LONGITUDINAL SLOT SPACED FROM SAID SOCKETS WHEREBY SAID RETAINING MEMBER IS PIVOTALLY CARRIED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER AND IS REMOVABLE UPON LATERALLY COMPRESSING SAID RETAINING MEMBER, (D) SAID RETAINING MEMBER ENGAGEABLY OVERLYING A PORTION OF SAID REED, (E) A COVER OVERLYING SAID REED AND RESILIENTLY ENGAGING SAID RETAINING MEMBER, (F) SAID COVER HAVING MEANS SELECTIVELY SECURING SAID COVER TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, AND (G) SAID COVER HAVING A RESILIENT CLAMPING MEANS OPERABLE ON SECURING SAID COVER TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER TO ENGAGE SAID REED WHEREBY TO CLAMP SAID REED TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER. 